(Kasabonika Lake First Nation) - The Board of Directors of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is pleased to announce Terry Armstrong as the designate Chief of Police effective September 3, 2013. Armstrong will succeed Robert Herman, who has held the position of Acting Chief of Police since January 23 of 2013.

Terry Armstrong spent most of his policing career with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Northwestern Ontario, and served as a First Nation Constable in Pikangikum for three years prior to becoming an OPP officer. He served many years in the Northwest Patrol and served secondments to First Nation policing, including Acting Chief of the Lac Seul Police Service. After retiring from the OPP in 2010, Terry served as Deputy Chief of Operations for the Treaty Three Police Service, a position he will hold until the end of this month.

“Terry has extensive experience in a wide variety of operational and administrative areas, including several years as a command officer, and has an in-depth knowledge of the issues and challenges facing First Nations policing in Northern and remote communities,” said Frank McKay, Chair of the Board of Directors, who made the announcement to Chiefs-in-Assembly during the XXXII Keewaywin Conference in Kasabonika Lake First Nation. “I am confident that his expertise, leadership and dedication to First Nations policing will be a tremendous asset to NAPS and the communities we serve.”

Acting Chief Herman will continue to serve in this capacity until Chief of Police-designate Armstrong officially assumes this position following a brief orientation session in September, after which he will lead the police service with Deputy Chief of Police Roland Morrison.

NAPS is the largest First Nations police service in Canada and the second largest First Nations police service in North America, employing more than 134 uniform officers and 30 civilians. NAPS polices 35 communities across the NAN territory, which encompasses nearly two-thirds of the Province of Ontario.